Dimapur, September 8 (MExN): Legislators of Nagaland today held a closed-door meeting where the Naga political issue was discussed, an apparently free and personal event but tightly closed to the Media and public. The only concrete detail of the proceedings the media was given access to, was that the legislators “expressed their genuine and unanimous concerns on the Naga political issue.”
Nonetheless, the legislators are expected to meet again under the banner of Nagaland Legislative Assembly in the near future. The speaker of the state assembly, the chief minister and the leader of Opposition has been entrusted to “consult with each other” and ‘convene another meeting of this forum.’ It was informed that 58 legislators including Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament Khekiho Zhimomi participated in the discussions.
Perhaps keeping in the true spirit of the ‘closed-door’ strategy, the state’s legislators could not be contacted for comment. However, the media secretary to the chief minister, Abu Metha said the legislators were unanimous that an event as the September 8 was ‘positive.’ On the points of discussions, Metha said the meeting basically underlined the common clarion that all the ‘factions’ – that is, fundamentally both the “over-ground” societies and the Naga underground factions – should unite.
The chief minister’s media official said no schedule has been set for the envisaged next meeting on the current point of matter. Also, a note from the CMO conveyed Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio’s gratitude to the Speaker of NLA and to all the legislators especially to the leader of opposition. All the participants are thanked for their “constructive contributions” which has made the meeting a ‘positive success.’” The CMO’s note did not explain what the “positive success” was though. “All members present in the meeting expressed their genuine and unanimous concerns on the Naga political issue and the need to forge understanding and unity amongst all sections of Naga society,” the note added.
